Stitching mechanism for joining cords or the like with a fabric



Aug. 11, 1953 L. BRUMBERGER STITCHING MECHANISM FOR JOINING CORDS OR THE LIKE WITH A FABRIC 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 22. 1950 INVENTOR Brumberger Aug. 1 1953 BRUMBERGER 4 STITCHING MECHANISM FOR JOINING CORDS OR THE LIKE WITH A FABRIC lfiled March 22, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Lou/s Brumberger @xx/ m Aug. 11, 1953 L, BRUMBERGER 2,648,304

STITCHING MECHANISM FOR JOINING CORDS OR THE LIKE WITH A FABRIC Filed March 22, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 L W 42\@ v/ss 64 A Q -63 6 A Fig.5

INVENTOR Louis Brumberger Patented Aug. 11, 1953 STITCHING MECHANISM JFORQJO INING CORDS' OR THE LIKEWITHA FABRIC Louis Brumberger, New Haven; Conn, assignor to MercurySportswear, Inc., New Haven, Conn., acorporation of Connecticut Application March 22, 1950, Serial'No. 151,160

'1' Claim. 1

The present invention relates to stitching mechanism, and, more particularly, to-stitching mechanism or devices for joining or attaching a cord, such as an elastic cord or tape, to a fabric. The fabric may be cloth from which a dress or bathing suit is to be formed.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided for causing a stitching thread or threads to be laid successively on alternate sides of a cord,- elastic strand, tape, or the like. The invention contemplates service of one or more cords into the stitching area. Service of two cords is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing, but it will be understood that any desired number of cords may be served tothe stitching area. Devices constructed in accordance with the invention may be operated in a manner to produce a so-called rufiled fabric when tension on the cord or cords is released after removal from the stitching area. It will be understood that the cord may pass into the stitching area without being maintained under substantial tension. The invention contemplates an attachment which can be applied to either a single or multiple needle lock-stitch sewing machine, The fabric passing through the stitching area of the sewing machine is moved forwardly with respect to the stitching operation. The cord or strands are fed with an oscillatory motion correlated with the movement of the fabric to which the cords are to be attached. The usual lockstitch is preferably employed to secure the cord or cords against one face of the fabric.

The primary object of the present invention is to join or attach a cord or cords to a fabric in a novel manner.

Another object is to provide novel apparatus for cooperation with the stitching mechanism of a sewing machine to secure a strand such, for example, as an elastic cord on the face of a piece of cloth.

A further object is to provide a novel apparatus for use with the stitching mechanism of a sewing machine for securing a cord against the face of a piece of cloth.

A still further. object is to providenovel means for securing a cord or tape against the surface of a fabric without piercing the cord or tape.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will, of course, become apparent and immediately suggest themselves to those skilled in th art to which the invention is directed from a reading of the followingspecification inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a portion of the head of a sewing machine equipped with cord 2 securing apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Fig."'2 is-a fragmentary view in front elevation of themachine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in side or-en'dielevationof'the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view in section,= the sectionsbe ing taken on line 4- 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig.5 is a fragmentary viewin plan'similar to Fig. 4 but showing the parts in another relative position; and

.Fig. 6.:isaview. in planof a piec of fabric, provided with attached cords in accordance with the invention, this view being illustrative of either nonstretchable cords with the fabric and cords'as a finished product, or fabric withstretchable cords prior to release of tensionon-the cords to provide a ruflled fabric.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, reference character l0 designatesthe entire head of a sewing: machine of a known kind. A showing of the usual and well known sewing'mechanism of the machine is omitted f-or' the sak of convenience ofdescription and clearness of disclosure.

The sewing machine chosen as an illustrative setting .of-the invention. is of the lock-stitch type-having the usual bobbin and shuttle mechanism with the accompanying thread tension and feeding devices (not shown) The machine head. I 0 includes an arm l2, shown fragmentarily, which houses the reciprocating mechanism'f-or the-needle bar M. A flywheel l6, whichservesalso as a handwheel, is-mounted on a. shaft 18. This .shaft serves to impart coordinated motionto the needle bar M, the cloth feeder 2|, and the thread feeding mechanism (notshown) for the needle or needles and the bobbin. Thehclothfeeder 2L advances or assists inadvancing, a fabric piece through the area in which the sewing needle operates. The wheel 16 may be driven by any suitable means, such, for example, as a motorpulleyor a belt. Thecloth feeder 2| moves the fabric or goods .2-3.a1ong the sewing table-:25 of the sewing machine head I 0- by its usual reciprocating movement. This.move ment. of the feeder. 2| is toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 3 and itis retracted for the return stroke.

The member 36 has clearance openings 40 and 4| to accommodate the sewing needles 66 and 61. Suitable means, such as screws 42, serve to secure the member 36 to the yoke 38. Screws 44, for example, secure the yoke 38 to the rod 39. The rod 39 is free to reciprocate in holes in the arms 46 to a bearing member 48. Both the stationary member 33 and the bearing member 48 are suitably secured to the presser foot bar 21.

Reciprocating movement is imparted to the rod 39 and hence the member 36 by means of a connecting rod which is pivotally connected to a stub shaft 52 projecting from the rod 39. The other end of the rod 5| is pivotally connected to a crank or eccentric device 54. The eccentric 54 is continuously driven from the main shaft I8 through suitably meshing gears 56 and 51, the latter being secured to the eccentric shaft 6 I. It will be understood by those familiar with or skilled in the sewing machine art that the movements of the needle bar I4, and rod 39, and the thread bobbin mechanism (not shown) will be coordinated since they are connected mechanically to the main shaft I8 of the sewing machine.

The stationary member 33 is provided with holes 63 and 64, one for each sewing needle 66 and 61.

Sewing threads H and 12 are fed to the sewing needles 66 and 61 in any manner usual in the sewing machine art. These threads are tensioned as usual and pass from reciprocating takeups, or the like (not shown). The needles pass through the holes 63 and 64 as they reciprocate into the sewing table or sole plate 25.

Cords or strands Hi and 11, which may be elastic cords, are fed from suitable skeins, reels or spools (not shown) to holes 18 and 19 pierced from the end of the reciprocating member 36. The cords 1B and 11 pass through the needle openings 63 and 64 to the fabric 23. The holes 18 and 19 receive the strands and permit feeding of the strands onto a fabric piece advancing through the area in which the stitching needle operates. As will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5, the movement of the reciprocating member 36 carrying the cords l6 and 11 will feed the cords from one side of the needles to the other causing the needles to form a stitch 80 beginning on one side of the cords and finishing on the other side as shown by Fig. 6.

It will be observed that each cord or strand is centered in the end of the hole 63 or 64 beyond the operating point or zone of the needle. It will also be observed that the fabric or goods 23 moves substantially in a straight line as is usual with sewing machines. This is a distinct advantage since it permits usual and well developed sewing machine procedures to be followed. The strand or cord, however many in number, is or are oscillated at a coordinated rate as they are fed to the sewing area or zone. In accordance with the invention, this is readily arranged.

If the so-called ruffled fabric, popular for bathing wear, is to be produced in accordance with the invention, the cords l6 and 11 will be of elastic material. They are then preferably fed under tension maintaining means (not shown) to the holes 18 andl9, tension being maintained by a frictionally controlled feed or by a speed coordinated feed. A cord feed which is timed to be slow with respect to feed of the fabric 23 through the stitching area will accomplish this result when desired. A pair of rollers 83 and 84 serves to draw the fabric completed in accordance with the invention, from the sewing area in the region of the needle or needles 66 and 61. Where the produced fabric is to be ruffled, the roller, or rollers 83 and 84, are driven at a speed to maintain tension and stretch in the cord or cords 16 and 11. When the tension and stretch are relieved, the fabric assume the aspect indicated by reference character 88 applied to Fig. 1. It will be understood that it is within the scope of the invention to time rotation of the roller 84 or the rollers 83 and 84 merely to draw the completed fabrics 23 from the sewing area. In the latter case, the fabric will not ruffle irrespective of whether or not the strands 16, 11 and perhaps others are made of elastic material.

It will be understood that either one of the rollers 83, or 84, or both, may be driven for rotation by suitable mechanical means (not shown) coordinated with the angular velocity or speed of rotation of the main shaft l8 of the sewing machine including mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

Conventional bearings and supports 9| and 92 are shown for the rollers 83 and 84. It will be understood that the roller 93 or the roller 84 may be electrically driven separately from the mechanism of the sewing machine. Since means adapted for doing this are well known, they are not shown separately. If electrical means are employed as suggested herein, they may be controlled as to speed of rotation, This may be accomplished by utilizing electrical synchronization as, for example, a synchronous motor.

The invention claimed is:

Mechanism for securing a strand against the surface of a fabric piece comprising: a stitching needle, means to cause said needle to reciprocate to execute successive stitching strokes, feed means to advance a fabric piece longitudinally through the area in which said needle operates, a presser member having an elongated strand guiding opening to receive the needle, said presser member being positioned above said feed means, means to cause movement of said presser member vertically to release a fabric piece, an apertured plate superimposed above said presser member, means to cause vertical movement of said plate with said member, said plate having a longitudinal opening in advance of said guide opening in said presser member and being superimposed to overlap said presser member to receive a strand and to permit feeding of the strand onto an advancing fabric piece through said opening in said presser member, and timed means to horizontally reciprocate said plate and the longitudinal opening therein with respect to each successive stitching stroke of said needle and an advancing fabric piece whereby said strand is fed alternatel on opposite sides of said operating needle, the opening in said presser member being of a width to limit feeding of said strand laterally.

LOUIS BRUMBERGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 419,221 Schneider Jan. 14, 1890 2,323,643 Weis Aug. 3, 1943 2,378,730 Seaman June 19, 1945 2,476,602 Harpham July 19, 1949 2,525,312 Prazak et al Oct. 10, 1950 

